Copper cable thief who caused Liversedge power cut is locked up

A cable thief has been jailed for four years after he caused hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of damage in Liversedge.

Robert Miles stole copper cable from an electricity substation in the town and caused a power cut that affected hundreds of homes.

Residents at a nursing home on Church Road had to be evacuated after a power surge, caused by the theft of the cable, damaged electrical appliances on July 23.

They had to wait until fire crews made the home safe again.

Miles, 34, was locked up for four years at Leeds Crown Court yesterday after admitting burglary.

Supt Dave Lunn, of Kirklees Police, said: “I hope that it sends a clear message to people involved in this type of crime.

“Miles’s actions caused massive disruption to hundreds of homes and the power surge that affected a local nursing home was a very frightening experience for the elderly people who were affected by it.”